[Roanoke]

Proof of concept, if you will







It would ferry Fighter squads through jump nodes prior to sending capital ships.

[Polpolion]

IMHO it'd need to carry a lot more fighters to be effective.

[Nuke]

thats how the rumrunner will eventually carry large fighters that wont fit in its fighterbay.

[Zoltan]

While I'm typically not especially fond of smaller carrier craft, I think this is a fresh take (always good), with a lot of promise.

[Titan]

so, it's just for carrying non- advanced subspace drive fighters through jumpnodes, and the ships already have their pilots in and stuff?

[Roanoke]

Yup. I figure 3 or 4 of these fully loaded-up would be a useful expeditionary force. Looks like it'll be vulnerable underneath as I can't reallt stuff turrets in next to piggy-backing Fighters.
It would use the existing Fighters rearm docking paths/points.

Wondering if I could add re-arm capability, as it happens.   

[Mobius]

1) I think of it as a SOC special deployment unit(Into the Lion's Den anyone?).

2) I think the fighters are vulnerable. What about covering them(even partially)?

[Titan]

have it so that it's own mini-cruiser goes on top, once it undocks to provide cover for the bottom of the ship, you could have animated weapons pop out of holes everywere on top, same thing for the bottom once the fighters are gone.

[Snail]

1) I think of it as a SOC special deployment unit(Into the Lion's Den anyone?).

I think it looks more like a cheap substitute for carriers when they are not available.

[colecampbell666]

1) I think of it as a SOC special deployment unit(Into the Lion's Den anyone?).

2) I think the fighters are vulnerable. What about covering them(even partially)?

have it so that it's own mini-cruiser goes on top, once it undocks to provide cover for the bottom of the ship, you could have animated weapons pop out of holes everywere on top, same thing for the bottom once the fighters are gone.

Both valid points.

[Mobius]

Many things depend on cost and availability. If the number of small carriers is very low they will probably be used for important ops(again, SOC).

I don't think they're meant for strikes, giving their vulnerability.

[Axem]

I think it would look better if it the "cargo" arranged like the transports have it in SupCom. You could probably carry more if you made racks like that (less protection though, but these don't look like front line craft).

[Thor]

a FS wing is 4 ships, so replace the center ship with a turret.  Best analogy is to think of it like n amphibious asault craft.  Drive it up to the beach, park it and get to work.  essentially all its required to do is drop the fighters off and get out of dodge until pick up.  perfect for those SOC missions, perhaps to ferry groups of fighters around.  wouldn't make much sense in traditional fleet ops. a real carrier would be  more effective.  but as a support vessel it makes more sense, so if it had rearming capabilites, now we're talking....

[Akalabeth Angel]

Many things depend on cost and availability. If the number of small carriers is very low they will probably be used for important ops(again, SOC).

    Eh, I think SOC is high priority enough to get system-capable drives on their fighters.

[Hellstryker]

a FS wing is 4 ships, so replace the center ship with a turret.  Best analogy is to think of it like n amphibious asault craft.  Drive it up to the beach, park it and get to work.  essentially all its required to do is drop the fighters off and get out of dodge until pick up.  perfect for those SOC missions, perhaps to ferry groups of fighters around.  wouldn't make much sense in traditional fleet ops. a real carrier would be  more effective.  but as a support vessel it makes more sense, so if it had rearming capabilites, now we're talking....

* Slaps Thor with a trout Wings range from 2 to 6 fighters

[Nuke]

While I'm typically not especially fond of smaller carrier craft, I think this is a fresh take (always good), with a lot of promise.

it makes since for a makeshift pirate vessel like the rumrunner though. point is you can jump in and get your fighters into the fray immediately out of the node. good for hit and runs and saves the cost of intersystem drives.

[Fearless Leader]

how would this save cost? how much does a fighter size inter system drive cost? how much does a small carrier + crew + maint. cost?

[boewolf]

how would this save cost? how much does a fighter size inter system drive cost? how much does a small carrier + crew + maint. cost?

For all we know the carrier is a drone

[Akalabeth Angel]

how would this save cost? how much does a fighter size inter system drive cost? how much does a small carrier + crew + maint. cost?

For all we know the carrier is a drone

       How widespread is the use of combat (or any) drone craft in FS2?
       And yeah yeah, Amazon target practice.

[Colonol Dekker]

Amazons are virtual craft though, along with all ships encountered in Training Simulator Modules.